Island



' H. MAXSON.`

Line orjRope Walk. No. 32.483.

- Patented Junel. 1861.

Eby-g UNTTED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

HORACE MAXSON, OF HOPKINTpN, RHODE ISLAND.

ROPE-WALK.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 32,483, dated June 4, 1861.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, HORACE MAxsoN, of

`I-Iopkinton, in the county of Washington and State of Rhode Island, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Line or Rope Walks; and I do lierebydeclare that the following is a full and exact description of the same.

The nature of my invention consists in the combination of a carriage sliding on perma nent ways and carrying or supporting two or more tops with a series of partitions or guides for the strands, whereby a number of lines or ropes may be formed in one walk by 011e operation, thereby increasing the number of lines laid up in a givenspace, saving a large proportion of the labor previously required and reducing the cost of manufacture.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention I will proceed to describe its construction and operation by the aid of the drawings, in which- Figure l is a plan of a portion of a ground or laying space, showing the several features of my improvement and Fig. 2 is a cross section of the same.

`A, A, represent the strands which may be of any number requisite to produce two or more complete lines. They are twisted by means of spindles or whirs a in the ordinary manner.

B, B, are the finished lines formed by the twisting of the strands A together.

Along the walk, and at a suiiicient distance apart to inclose the required number of strands, I lay parallel rails C C supported at a convenient height from the floor by posts and ties at proper intervals. On these rails I mount a carriage D running on wheels or sliding on the rails as may be desired. The upper surface of this carriage is grooved in the manner shown in Fig. l, to receive the strands A and unite them to form the lines B in a manner similar to the ordinary top g 7 or, if preferred, the required number of tops may be attached to the carriage D. By sliding this carriage along the rails C, C, as many cords or lines may be laid at one operation as the apparatus is fitted for, in the same time, and with the same labor now required to lay a single line.

lVithin the rails C, C, and parallel thereto I place other rails or strips E, between the strands A, to guide the latter and keep them apart.` Suitable supports e are provided at proper intervals to sustain the weight of the strand.

In line or rope walks as heretofore constructed the strands are placed in rests or stakes at intervals, between which rests, they are entirely unconined, and as they are liable to vibrate to a greater or lesser extent while twisting it has been found necessary to hold them at a considerable distance apart to prevent tangling. This distance between the strands becomes a serious disadvantage when several lines are to be laid by one operation in the manner herein shown, because it would necessitate the use 'of an inconveniently long carriage. By means -of the partitions E I keep the strands separated their entire length, and can therefore place them in much closer proximity without danger of their becoming intertwisted or tangled. I am thus enabled to use a much narrower ground and consequently shorter carriage for the same number of lines than could be done without the divisions E, and thus greatly facilitate the manufacture of lines and small cordage.

Having now fully described my invention what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- The employment of the carriage D containing or supporting two or more tops or their equivalents with the ways or rails C, C, and the partitions E arranged and operating together substantially in the manner, and so as to obtain the advantages herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HORACE MAXSON.

Witnesses:

O. B. IRISH, lALFRED B. BURDICK, 2d. 

